3d ago

Are you a feminist? (If so why, if not why not?)

Might help also to describe what you think feminism is, since it's one of those terms that is overloaded.

I once had a physical therapist tell me she wasn't a feminist because she thought women couldn't be as physically capable as men when serving as soldiers, and seemed to believe feminism requires treating women exactly like men.

I told her I was a feminist because I believe in equal rights for men and women, an idea she did not seem so opposed to.

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My politics are death to america and death to israel. Free Palestine and free the planet from US empire and centuries of European colonial domination.
Feminists have not done much materially on that front lets be honest.
Throwback to big name feminist Judith Butler on October 13 2023:

Judith was not the only big name feminist to hold such views following the magnificent al Aqsa Flood Operation.
I would say that the web of NED/USAID NGO's that represent the face of feminism today has been a very effective tool of empire. I dont want women CEOs and women drone pilots and women iof soldiers and women politicians in puppet governments. I am a woman who wants the end of colonial occupation and superexploitation.
- I am confused how this is controversial.
  Comrade @Cowbee@lemmy.ml is this just upsetting the federated liberals or have I said something harmful?
  
  I'd say you're 70% right, 30% wrong. Liberal feminism has often been a tool of empire, correct, but Marxist feminism is a critical tool for the liberation of the oppressed. Liberal feminists like the early suffragettes were only fighting for the rights of white women, as an example. The way your comment is framed unfortunately erases the need for feminism more than it highlights the imperialists coopting the movement. There are feminists like bell hooks and Angela Davis, Alexandra Kollontai, Leslie Feinberg, etc that point out that it is by uniting the oppressed segments of society that we can all liberate together. Marxism needs feminism, and feminism needs Marxism.
  
  I understand what you are saying. And I agree that women are systematically deprived and oppressed and exploited. I just dont see feminism or at least western feminism as the route to achieve that.
  I still am deeply suspicious of feminist figures generally as Angela Davis campaigned for Biden and Holocaust Harris . I have not heard of all the ones you mentioned though. So I wont say all of them are bad. I just remain suspicious.
  I absolutely do not identify as anti-feminist as the people who staunchly identify this way are generally insufferable. I just am ambivalent about the label. Each society on earth will resolve secondary and tertiary contradictions but that is always delayed by the genocidal machine of imperialism and all its tentacles.
  For instance, I have rarely ever seen self-described feminists recognize the power and importance of hijab and instead often attack it. But the hijab can and actually is an empowering thing for many women and is a weapon against imperialism as well. How can we expect social contradictions of gender to be resolved when entire societies are subjected to genocidal attacks?
  
  I'm absolutely in agreement that secondary and tertiary contradictions are easier to solve when the primary contradiction is tackled. Social progress for Palestinians will speed along once Palestine is free, and would be stunted if Israel were to succeed in its aims. I do believe that uniting the oppressed in society is ultimately the best revolutionary strategy.
  
  I do believe that uniting the oppressed in society is ultimately the best revolutionary strategy.
  I agree completely. If Zionism emerges victorious from this war then we are all doomed. I just wish the rest of the world understood this as well.
- You have a very developed viewpoint! Thank you for sharing it!
  
  🫡

262 comments